Day 14: Mon 01 Apr 24 - Salmon Gums to Esperance

Day 14: Mon 01 Apr 24 - Salmon Gums to Esperance (109km)

14 feeling like 9 Deg, cloudy and 22km/h SE winds, remaining cloudy until mid afternoon when it cleared, only reaching 20 Deg in Esperance. Thankfully the wind wasn't as strong as expected, but it was still surprisingly fresh. 

At 08:15, we drove away from Salmon Gums arriving at our destination, Esperance for a 4-night stay. Esperance is located on the Southern Ocean coastline and its major industries are tourism, agriculture, and fishing. The Mallee area that we passed through on the way, which covers almost the entire distance between Salmon Gums and Esperance (approximately 100 km), is a major grain growing area. Esperance is also renowned for its white sandy beaches and aqua coloured waters which we hope to explore over the coming days.

We arrived in Esperance at about 09:45, and with check-in to the caravan park not allowed before midday, we parked at the heavy vehicle parking bay in town and searched for a coffee shop. We walked towards the foreshore, and as its Easter Monday most businesses are closed, so we settled on the Saigon bakery where we also indulged in a meat pie which looked very enticing. I enjoyed mine, unfortunately Noel thought hers was terrible. From the bakery we walked down to the Esplanade together, then Noel doubled back to find a pharmacy and get a few things from IGA for dinner, while I continued wandering along the Esplanade. We met back at the van at 1140 then proceeded to the Pink Lake Holiday Park where we checked in and set up our van on a nice large site (19B) with an equally large concrete slab. Being here for four days, I also set up the awning complete with anti-flappers and privacy screen. Soon after, we were sitting outside having lunch. After lunch, I gave the bikes a wash to remove all the dirt we collected across the Nullarbor, then went for a short ride around town and along the Esplanade to the jetty. By now the clouds had disappeared, and it would have been a much nicer afternoon had it not been for the fresh breeze blowing off the Antarctic. Back at the van, Noel and I did some planning for our stay at Esperance and beyond, then we had dinner and a quiet night. With more than 3,350km covered over the past 14 days since we left home, we're feeling surprisingly tired today. 

Our site at Salmon Gums Caravan Park which was quite a pleasant stay. The old hunched-back caretaker was a bit of a grumble bum, and severely lacking in interpersonal skills. He did provide us with a few laughs at his expense though.

Esperance - One of several murals discovered today. A lovely way to brighten an old town

Esperance Mural


Esperance Farming History Mural - A tribute to the farmers who opened Esperance’s rich sand plain to agriculture and sparked the south coast town’s post-war population boom.

Esperance Farming History Mural

Esperance Mural

Esperance mural by Graeme Richards depicting the Battle Of Beersheba, the scene of an historic charge of the 4th Lighthorse Brigade on the 31 October 1917. 

Esperance Mural and Tank

Esperance War Memorial

Esperance Whale Tail Sculpture. 

Esperance foreshore

Esperance foreshore

Esperance Foreshore

The Esperance Wanju Nyungar Boodja (Welcome to Country) Mural - Amazing Artwork 

Esperance Mural

Esperance brilliant blue waters

Esperance Port

Esperance Clock Tower

The 415m Esperance Jetty opened in 2021, designed to pay homage to the original Esperance Tanker Jetty

Esperance Jetty


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